Radiator-cap construction



Nov. 18, 1930. I MILLER 1,781,878

RADIATOR GAP CONSTRUCTION I Filed Dec. 12, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 18, 1930. R. MILLER 1,731,878

RADIATOR CAP CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 12, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fiaaadpX ffl'dd r 36% MVZQUMM "of automobile radiators.-

Patented Nov. 18, 1930 r UNITED- STAT S BUD OLPHlMILLER, or nnr norr, MICHIGAN, assrsnondisv nnsnn ass'rsmvrnnrsgro BOHN LUMIN & nnass oonronarron; onnnrnorr, s re-AN, A oonroaa:

TION OF MICHIGAN mnmrmrcaP ponsrRirorroN 3 Application filed December 12', 1927. Serial No. 239,5 9.

The invention relates to closures and more particularly to closures for manner tubes The'invention has as one of its primary objects, to provide a closure of the abovetype" distinguished by its simplicity' of construction and facility with which it maybe-oper- V a showing the closure turned to unlatched posiated to open or close the filler tube w'hi'chnot .only enhances its value, both mechanically andcommercially but provides a design of a strong and durable nature. a

While the invention is applicable to containers adaptedfor many differentuses, nevertheless, the invention finds particular 5 utility inconnection with the filler tubes of it has f been quite generally the practice to threaded automobile radiators. Heretofore ly secure the closure upon the filler tube. .This arrangement is objectionable not only 8 from the standpoint of the time required to attach and detach the closure but also due to the difliculty in accurately aligning the closure with respect to the radiator.

Itis therefore one of the objects of this 1 5 invention to eliminate the disadvantages heretofore pointed. out and to provide a-closure permanently attached to the filler tube and one that will present a sightly and finished appearance; :The several details of 39.:construction of thisinvention will be made Figure 1 is a perspective view of the closureshowing the same in open position;

showing the same in latched position; V

V Figure 3 is a sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 33 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line H of Figure 2'; Figure 5 is a bottom plan View showing the closure member inlatched and unlatched positions; i

. Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 3; Figure 7 is aperspective view of a modified form of closure;

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the closure adapter ring.

' receiving an annular ring 16. which as shown is permanently 'se'curedto-the base of the reshowin'gthe' sameappliedto a filler tube-of an automobile radiator; a Y Figure 9 is a perspectiveview of theadapter-ring;j

. Figure 10 is a sectional view taken sub sta-ntia'llyonithelin"e10-10 of Figure 8 Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 tion; and V j. v

Figure 12 is a detail View showing the In the present instance, I have shown a fillertube 10 of an automobileradiator havinga' threaded portion 11 for receiving a ring' l2 which, as shown is permanently secured to the filler tube by means of the set screw 13.. The uppersurfa'ce 14 of the ring 12. is formed with "a circumferentially extending recess 15 for cessby flush riveting." The upper surface 14 of the ring16 being-fiushwith thesurface 14 of the ringf12. Formed adjacentthe inner 'edge of 'theiring 16 is a circumferentially extending-groove 17 for receiving a compressible gasket 18. The ring 16is further cut 'away as indicated at 19 for receiving the de pendinghinge member v20 formed upon the closure member 21. This hinge member being 'apertured as at 22 for receiving a pin 23 which engages'in aligned apertures formedin the opposite side walls of the cut away portion 19 for accomplishing ahinge function of the closure 21. 'The recess 15, diametrically oppo- V V 1 site the hinge connection aforesaid, is formed Figure 2 1s a sectlona'l view of the closure with an extension or slot 22 which projects beyond the periphery of the ring 16 and com-- municates with a slot 23 formed in the inner surface of the ring 16. 5

The'closure member 21 is formed of two parts anon-rotatable part 24upon which; the hinge member 20 is formed and a relatively rotatablepart 25 constituting the top of the closure 21; The part 24 is provided with an upwardly extending annular projection '26 having diametrically opposite arcuate lateral projections 27 in substantial alignment with the pivotal connection of the part 24; with the ring v12. The rotatable part-25 on, the other hand is formed with a recess 28 of sufficient diameter to receive the projection 26. The recess-28 is. provided with the diametrically opposite inwardly extending projections 30 which together with the inner surface 31 of the part- 25 constitute grooves for receiving the projections 27 upon the part 24. Thus when assembling the part 25 upon the part 24, the projections 27 on the latter are inserted in the recess 28 between the projections 30 thereof.*- The part 25 is thenmerely'rotated a quarter of a turn or through an arc of approximately 90, at which timethe projections 27 will engage behind the projections 30 on the part 25 and the latter is in its proper assembled position with the stationary part 24. It will further be noted that the recess 28 completely encases the part 24 and isprovided with a portion 31 inclined with respect to the longitudinalaxis of the cap constituting an efficient bearing for the periphery of the part 24, which as shown is also inclined to accu rately engage the inclined portion-aforesaid.

normally be rotated to the extent that it may bedetached from the part 24, I provide an elongated slot 32 in the peripheryrof the part 24 in substantial alignment with the projections 27. and arranged to register with the extension 22' of the recess in the closed positionof the; parts. Threadedly engaging the part and extending into the slot 32 is a plug 33 having a hooked portion 34 upon the lower end thereof arranged to extend through a slot 35 formed in the periphery of the ring 16. As shown the dimension of the; slot 35 is such that one end 36 thereof extends into the portion 22 of the recess 15and by reason of theslot 23 formed in the inner surface of the ring 16, is spacedabove the bottom-of the recess 15, thus forming a projection or shoulder for engagementwith the hooked portion 34 of the plug upon rotation of the part 25. The extent of rotation of the part 25 depending upon the length of the slot 32 and the dimension thereof is-so selected that when the plug 33 engages the side wall 39 of the slot, the hookedportion is outof engagement with the ring 16 and the closure is freeto be swung to open position, whileo'n the other hand when the plug is in engagement withthe opposite wall 40 of the slot, the closure is locked in closed position. Thus assuming that the closure is swung to open position and it is desiredto close the same the part 25 is rotated until the plug 33 contacts with the side wall 39 of the slot 32.

The closure'is then swung to closed'position slot35.

ed portion 42. Threadedly mounted upon 7 the iillerltube, Thus from the foregoing, it;-

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figures 7 to 12 inclusive, it will be noted that there is illustrated a filler tube 41 of an automobile radiator having a threadthe filler tube is a ring 43having a reduced threaded portion 4 4 at its upper end formed with an annular recess 45 for receiving a gasket 46 and further formed with a bayonet slot 47 in the side thereof. To prevent any escape or removal of the ring from its described position upon the filler tube and to accurately position the former with respect to the latter, it is preferred to establish an engagement between the ring and tube supple mental to their threaded connection. This may be accomplished in any suitable manner herein shown as by means of a set screw 48 threadedly engaging the ring and abutting will be readilyapparent that after the. ring has assumed itspredetermined position it is permanently. secured, to the filler, tube by means of the set screw 48. Threadedly mounted upon the ring 43 is a second ring 49 0 having the laterally projecting ears 5O spaced apart a suflicient distance to receive the lug 51 depending from the closure member 52.

A suitable pin 53 is then placed in aligned apertures formed in the ears 50 and lug 51 for effecting a hinge function of the closure. To restrict the movement of the ring 49, relative to't'he ring 43 the former is provided with a depending projection or pin 54 of a suflicient length to engage in an elongated recess 55' formed in the side of the ring'43. Thus it to. The ring 49 is-further provided dia- 1 metrically opposite the hinge connection aforesaid with a slot 55 registerable in one position of the ring 49 with the open portion 56 of the bayonet slot 47 formed in the ring 43. For rigidly securing the closure member 52 upon the rings, the former is provided with a depending projection 57 having a laterally oflsethooked portion 58 at the lower end thereof. The position of the projection 57 upon the closure is so selected that it will register with the slot 55 formed in the-ring 49 and with the open portion 56'of the slot 47 ,in one rotative position of the ring'49. The hooked portion 58 being so arranged as to engage the upper wall 59 of the slot 47 which as shown, is slightly inclined downwardly so that upon rotation of the ring 49 and closure member, the latter will be subjected to a sealing pressure upon the gasket 46. Wnle it is believed that the operation of the device will be thoroughly understood from the foregoing description a brief outline thereof will be given. "Assuming that the closure is swung to open position and it is desired to close the same, the operator merely swings the closure downwardly about its pivot, the projection 57 extending through the slot and into the bayonet slot 47. j The ring' 49 together with the closure 52 is then rotated until the hooked portion 58 of the, projection firmly engages the upper inclined wall 59 of the slot 47.- To open the closure,

the latter is merely rotated'in a direction op-. posite to the direction aforesaid until the pin 54 engages one side {of the recess 55 at which time the openings 55 and 56 register,

permitting the closure to be swung to open position. V p

Thus from the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that a device of the character herein shown and described offers the possibility of eliminating complicated and ineflicient connections between the'filler tube and closure therefor, and renders possible the pro duction of a commercially satisfactory con-. i struction which can be cheaply and durably manufactured, assembled and installed.

lVhat I claim as my invention is: 1. The combination with a filler tube of a radiator, of a ring secured to said filler tube havmg a recess therein, a member positioned within said recess, a closure having a part hlngedly mountedupon said ring and another part rotatably mounted upon said'first men tioned part, and means upon said rotatable part engageable ina portion of said recess in one rotative position of'said rotatable part and engageable with said member in another rotative position thereof to subject the closure to a sealing pressureupon said ring.

2. The combination with a filler tube of a radiator, of a ring: secured to saidfiller tube.

having a recess therein, av member arranged within said recess having a groove therein for receivin a asket a closure havin a art hingedly mounted upon said-ring and an other part rotatably mounted upon the part aforesaid, and means depending from said rotatable part engageable in one r-otative position of the latter with said recess andoperable in another rotative position tosubject the closure to a sealing pressure upon said gasket. V w

3. In a device of the class described a closure having relatively rotatable parts, one,

part completely encasing and detachably engaging the other part, and means for limiting sure including a part having a recess theres in,ga"secondp'art closing said recess and "arranged-flush with the bottom of saidyfirst' 1 part, means arranged withinsaid recess and engageable} with said second part for holding thesame-inen'gagement with said fi'rst -me'n.- tioned f part, saidmeans being operable upon I relative rotationof said p'arts to disengage the same,'a'nd' mean's operable to permit alimited relative-rotation offsaidparts but to nor; I I mally prev'ent rotation thereof to the'extent that/said parts become-disengaged.

6; In" a deviceof the class described, a closure including two'frelatively movable i parts, one part l encasing the other and "having a lmemb 'er projecting therefrom engageable in an elongated slot formed in the other of said parts.

- 7. In device ofthe cl'ass described, a clo-j sure i 'i cliiding a part formed with laterally projecting portions; a second" parthaving a recess therein for refceiving the partaforesaid and formed "with inwardly, p'rojectingfportions engageable with the lateral projections aforesaid for holdi'ngsaid parts in assembled 'pos'itionif" T V s; In a device of-the class described, a @16- Tsure including apart h'av'ing an upwardly'extending projection formedwith diametrically opposite lateral projections, ase'condflpart recessed for receiving said first part, and projections extending-inwardly from thesides'of said recess and en-gageable* with i the said said parts in assembled position. A I a '9, Iniadeviceofthe class'described,.a ring, a closurehaving a; parthingedly mounted l p j s-f r normallyholding the upon said ring, a second part encasing the 7 part aforesaid and capable ofrotation relative thereto, a member projecting from the second part and engageable with the first part to limit the relative rotation of'said parts,

said member'also being operable in one rotative position of the parts to engage said ring and subject the closure to a sealing pressure upon said ring. i

. l0.v The combination with acontainer having an opening therein, and a ring surround-j ing said opening having a shoulder, .of a closure member normally seated upon said ring and having relatively movable interlocking parts, and means uponsaid closure operable parts for limiting the relative rotationof said 7 upon relative movement of said parts to en- 7 gage the shoulder aforesaid and subject the closure to a sealing pressure upon the ring.

11. The combination witha container having an opening therein and a ring surrounding said opening, of a closure member normally seated upon said ring and formed of relatively movable interlocking parts, one of said parts being hingedly connected to the ring, and means upon the closure operable upon relative movement of said parts in one direction to permit theclosure to function about the hinge connection aforesaid and op- D ment of the parts.

erablc gupon relative movement of the parts in another direction to subject-the closure to a sealing pressure upon the ring.

12. The combinatmn Wlthfi container hav-v ing an opening; therein,of a closure for said opening composed of relatively movable parts, one part hingedly connected to the container and another. part completely encasing the part, aforesaid and means upon both of saidparts cooperating to form an interlocking connection therebetween.

13. The combination with a container havingan opening therein of a closure for said opening formed of relatively movable parts and means projecting from oneof said parts operable to limit relative movement thereof and tosubject the closure to a sealing pressure upon the container. V

7 14. A closure for conta ners having relatively moving parts, and means associated with saidparts forming a detachablednterlocking connection therebetween, said means operable upon a" predetermined relative movement of the from each other. a V,

15. A closure for containers having relatively movable parts, means associated with said parts forming'a detachable interlocking connection therebetween, said means operable upon a predetermined relative movement of the parts to disengage thesame from each other, and means detachably carried by one of said parts and engageable with another part for normally restricting relative movetestimony whereof I' a ffix my signature. 1 RUDOLPH MILLER.

parts to disengage the same 

